NYC Theatre District
(Broadway/ Times Sq)

Broadway is one of the greatest tourist destinations in New York. 8.5 million ticket-s were bought by visitors who considered Broadway a very important reason for coming to New York City.

Read more to see its background, economic and social impacts.

01 Theatre District Revival

Early 1900s-1920s Theatres began moving to Time Square and there was a spike in theatre production and with over 30 venues. The area closes due to Great Depression and becomes derelict in the 1970s facing its worst period. After efforts of urban regeneration through the 42nd street development project and landmark preservations activities in 1980s and the partnership with Disney in 1990s the area become revived.

02 Capacity

Out of 41 theater venues in New York hosting Broadway shows, 32 had a seating capacity of over one thousand as of January 2023. Overall, the Gershwin Theatre, located in Midtown Manhattan, had the largest audience capacity, with 1,933 seats. By contrast, the Hayes Theater, named after renowned actress Helen Hayes, was the smallest venue to host Broadway shows, with 597 seats. As a rule, Broadway theaters have 500 or more seats, while Off-Broadway theaters hold between 100 and 499 seats.

03 Economic Impacts

Broadway contributes $14.7 billion to the economy of New York City on top of ticket sales and supports 96,900 local jobs. Broadway is one of the greatest tourist destinations in New York. 8.5 million tickets were bought by visitors who considered Broadway a very important reason for coming to New York City. Broadway audiences are split among locals (35%) and tourists (65%). The number of attendances by domestic tourists has grown from 3.4 million in 1999 to 6.8 million in 2019. Broadway also attracts repeat customers—61% of the audience attends at least two shows a season, and the average Broadway theatregoer attends four shows.

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Other Impacts

Small theaters are an integral part of the city’s performing arts sector. They continue to be a stage for provocative, cutting edge work, and are an invaluable platform for both established and up-and-coming talent, playwrights, and creative production teams.